Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan Calls for Nationwide Resistance Against 'Government-Sponsored' Land Acquisition

New Delhi: The Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan (BAA) has called for a nationwide movement against what it described as "government-sponsored land grabs" in the name of development, alleging that land belonging to farmers, Adivasis and other rural communities is being acquired and handed over to corporate and real estate interests.

The call was made at the National Leadership Meeting of the BAA held at the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) office in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by leaders of farmers' organisations, agricultural workers' unions and civil society groups, including AIKS leaders Hannan Mollah and Dr Ashok Dhawale, AIAWU leader B. Venkat, representatives of the All India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Sangathan (AIKKMS), Van Shramajeevi and other organisations.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the BAA alleged that the Centre and several state governments were pursuing policies that facilitate the acquisition of large tracts of land from peasants, agricultural workers, Adivasis, forest-dwelling communities, fisherfolk and the rural poor in the name of industrialisation, infrastructure and development.

The organisation claimed that the acquired land was being transferred to corporate houses and real estate interests, resulting in the displacement of lakhs of families from their land and livelihoods. It particularly criticised the BJP-led Union government, alleging that similar large-scale land acquisitions were taking place in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Karnataka and Assam.

The BAA further alleged that many of these acquisitions violated the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. It also expressed concern over what it described as the erosion of constitutional safeguards in Scheduled Areas, accusing governments of bypassing the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), the Forest Rights Act, and the authority of Gram Sabhas while acquiring Adivasi land.

The meeting also criticised land acquisition initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and opposed the Centre's proposed mega development projects in Great Nicobar Island, alleging that they threatened environmental sustainability, biodiversity and the rights of indigenous communities.

Reaffirming that land, forests and natural resources belong to the people, the BAA urged democratic organisations to unite against what it termed a "corporate-driven model of development."

As part of its action plan, the organisation announced state-level campaigns, fact-finding visits, public mobilisation programmes, district- and state-level conventions, and consultations aimed at bringing together farmers, agricultural workers, Adivasis, Dalits, women, youth and civil society groups.

The BAA also resolved to convene an extended national meeting on August 2 to finalise a programme of nationwide protests and organise a National Convention on Land Rights to strengthen opposition to what it described as pro-corporate land acquisition policies.